Periconceptional 1,3-butanediol supplementation suppresses the superimposed preeclampsia-like phenotype in the Dahl salt-sensitive rat

Abstract

Although studies have demonstrated that a ketogenic diet or increased β-hydroxybutyrate levels can reduce hypertension, the therapeutic potential of 1,3-butanediol, a precursor of β-hydroxybutyrate, for the treatment of preeclampsia has not been investigated. This study tested the hypothesis that attenuating hypertension before pregnancy and through the placentation period via 1,3-butanediol prevents the onset of preeclampsia in female Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/Jr) rats. We found that 1,3-butanediol significantly lowered blood pressure and improved uterine artery resistance in pregnant Dahl salt-sensitive rats, with no observable adverse fetal effects. These findings support the therapeutic role of physiological ketosis via BD as a potential therapeutic approach for managing chronic hypertension and mitigating adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with preeclampsia.